Trousers stretcher



4 March 26, 1929.

C. M. DEL VALLE TROUSERS STRETCHER Filed Sept 17,- 1927 tin-l0; M. dell/a110, @11 MA amw 3M4 flmw;

Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES CARLOS M. DEL VALLE, or new YoRK, N, Y.

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Application filed September 17, 1927. SerialNo. 220,168.

This invention relates to a. trousers stretcher. y

The object of the invention is theproduc tion of a trousers stretcher which can be easily attached to the legs of a pair of trousers and maintain the creases therein. The second object of the invention is the production of a trousers stretcher the length of which can be easily varied. The th rd object of the invention is the PJSOClLlCtlOll of a trousers stretcherwhich will maintain the creases in a pair of trousers without any injury thereto. The fourth object of the invention is the production of a trousers stretcher adapted to engage the creases of the legs of a pair of trousers when worn,

and which will also engage said creases when not worn. a

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a plan view of an exemplification of the adjustable trousers stretcher; Fig. 2 shows a right hand side view'of a fragnientary portion of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of Fig. 1; Fig. 4: represents a front view of Fig. 3;Fig, 5 is a section of Fig. 4: on the line 5, 5; Fig. 6 indicates an enlarged partial top View and section of Fig. 2 onthc line 6, 6;.Fig. 7 shows a section of a leg of a pair of trousers and partial side view and section of Fig. l on the line 7, 7, and Fig. 8 shows a plan view of a modification of the trousers stretcher. V

The trousers stretcher preferably comprises a pair of flexible bowed bands,-wl .ich

each comprise an inner resilient main band' 20, which has :toruied. therein flurality of locking openings 21, and has extending therefrom a plurality of guide pins 22. A pair ot outer resilient bands 28 are in slidable engagement with, and oppositely positioned upon the outer faces of each of the inner resilient main bands 20. Each of the bands 28 has formed therewith a spring locking latch 29, which is adapted to lock with its adjacent locking openings 21. The latches 29 are made by cutting small strips in the bands 28, and thenpressingthe strips to make them or theproper l'cngthbefore i j w w bending them. Gulde openlngs 80 are i 'tornie'd in each of the bands 28 and they each engage the body portion of one of the guide pins 22, and maintain the bands 28 in slidable relation to the band 20. By engaging the spring lockinglatch 29 in the diftlerent openings 2l,tbe members 28 can be to form the said spring latch.

V spaced different distances apart to vary the distance between the outer ends of the bowed bands. At theouter end of each band28 is formed a return bendSl, which form a practically cylindrical seat 83, the extreme end of which is welded to or otherwise his tened to the main portion of said band as indicated at 84. The outer end of each band 28 is pyramidal in shape as indicated at 35, and has formed therewith the curved nose 3-6. A latch opening 39 is made in each re turn bend 31, and the material cutout is formed into a spring latch 40. The portion forming the: spring latch may be somewhat flattened torcduce its thickness and thereby provide sufiicient length of material The said spring latches are adapted to engage the openings 39. An adjustable supplemental band 4-5 is provided for the outer end of each of the bands 28, and hasforlned therewith atone endthe disc 46. The plane of the said disc 46 is at right angle to the body portion of its hand 45, and an opening 47 is formed in each disc. At the other end of the band 45, there is formed a return bend 48 having-the rounded nose 49. A barrel 50 extends from and below each disc i6 and rotatively engages theseat 88. The barrel 50 has formed-therein a pair of seats 51 and 52 with their planes inclined to each other, and the spring latch is adapted to engage each of said seats. A bolt 53 extends through the opening 47 and through an opening coaatial therewith in the barrelfiO.

A. washer-b4encircles the bolt 53 and is niaintnincd against the bottom face of the return bend 31, by means of the nut which is in threaded engagement with the bolt 53. 13y means of the said bolt, washer and nutthebarrcl is maintained in operative p sition.

The supplemental bands 45 are normally maintained in their angular position rela tively to the 'members 28 as indicated in full lines iii the drawings, when the trousers stretcher is in position in the legs of a pair of troiuiers." In thisposition the spring latch 40 engages amen 51 of the barrel 50. 1" 21th of the bands 115 may be turned to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 with the body portion of each practically paralllelto the plane passing through the aiiial centers oi? the barrelsbO. With this latter location oft-he bands 45 the length of the bowed bands of the trousers strctchers is increased} In this position of the bands 45, the seats 52 engages the spring latches 40.

The pair of flexible bowed bands are connected to'each other by-means ofethe-vertical resilient bands 61, 62 and 63.

'lhebands (31 and 62 have their ends weldedor otherwise connect-ed to the hands adjacent .to

the outer ends of the latter, and the band 63 is connected to the central portion ofleach ofthe main-band'sQO. The band 63 extends somewhat beyond the outer edge of one of the bandsfitlgandhasjanopening 64. Qpenings- 65 may ext-end through the junction of each of the main bands and theband 63.

Refer-ring lpartieularly to Fig. 7 a trou-,

S .l s s indi ste at 0 w t th t us stretcherconnected thereto. Pieces of fabric 71,01 other suitable material have their-ends stitched to thesinner face of the-leg of the trousers and form loops which engage and -supporlt thebands f28 and similar pieces of fabric 72have theirends stitched to the inner face of the t-rousers and form loops which engage and support @the'gbands 20. Eaehof thefbands 20 anclthe ends of the 63 l may bestitchedrto thellegs ot-ithe trousers by th ng s ingih Op n ngs 5.

. It is to; be.understood-that the flexible 'bowedbands ofthe stretchers when inserted in the-trousers will takeabout the shape ,qindicated in Fig. 1' oif the drawings, the noses 36 engaging the creases thereof and the resiliencyof thefbands 61 GQP-and {63 maintain the lower portionof thetrousers taut. The lower. flexible bowed bands are {preferably attached to each trousers leg adjacent t as low end and the upp si ie bowedbands are preferaloly locatedbelowthe 1 Q-bowed bands-arelnsertedin thelegs of-the trousers that they are appr ciably more kneeof the wearer;

in will bewllllderstood -that ea the flattened than '=ijndicated in Fig. 2 so that their resiliency when in placewill engage wthe creases of the legs of the trousers, to

maintain them creased.

'; NVhen-the trousers are hun u 3 when not in (use thesu plemental bands am locked in their outward position as indicated in dotted lines in "Fig. 1, and thereby the noses .349; engage the creases j of the legs of't-he trousers and" thelatter are automatically- 4 pressed, The trousersfcan be hung by engaging a hooker other device withthe openingsfit in tlieba-Ilds 7 'If 'desired the bandsof the stretcher-s may be covered with a fabric indicated: at 7 5.

Spring steel used for the bands of the stretehers although whale boneor other 1 i suitablematerial may be used. The inven- .-ti on"mayL- also-b'e-used with onlyonebof the j bowetl' bands with its resilient bands} 20 and bands. Both the latches 29 and 40 may be made by making the necessary openings therefor in their respective bands and return bends and welding or otherwise fastening the latches to said bands and return bonds for said openings.

Referring to Fig. 8 which indicates a modification of the trousers stretcher, the bowedband comprises a single resilient band 80 having the pyramidal ends 81 similar to 35. The said pyramidal ends have connccted thereto the supplemental bands 45, each with its disc 4&6 and rounded nose 4?).

Various modifications may be made in the invention and the present exempliiication is to be taken as .ill ustrativeaml not limitative thereof.

Having described .my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim 1s:

1. In a trousers stretcher the combination of a resilient bowed band, comprising an inner resilient main band, a pair of outer resilient bands slidably connected to the main band, each of the outer bands having a curved nose at its outer end and means to lock the outer bands to the inner band in different positions.

2. In a trousers stretcher the combination of a resilient bowed band, comprising an inner resilient main band, a )air of outer resilient bands slidably gui( ed and con.- nected to the main band, each of the outer bands having a pyramidal outer end with av curved nose and .means to lock the outer bands to the main inner band in different positions.

3. din a trousers stretcher the combination ofa resilient bowed band. a supplemental band pivoted to each end of the bowed band and a locking connection between the bowed band andeach of the sruqplemental bands to lock the, latter in diflcrcnt angular positions.

4. In. a trousers stretcher the combination of a bowed band, comprising an inner resilient main band, a pair of outer resilient 'bandsslidably guided and dctachably connected to the main band, each of the outer bands having a pyramidal outer end with a curved nose and a p -actically cylindrical seat, a supplemental band for each of said .outerbands, a barrel extending from each supplementary band engaging one of said seats and a locking device interposed between each barrel and its seat to lock said supplemental bands in different positions.

,5.In a trousersstretcher the combination of a bowed band, comprising an inner resilient main band, a pair of outer resilientvbands slidably guided and detachably locked .;t o:the main band, each of the outer bands having a return bend at its outer end forming a pyramidal onterend with a cylindrical seat aspring latch formed with each return benu, a supplemental band for each pyramidal end, a barrel extending from each supplemental band having a pair of seats adapted to lock with said spring latch and means to maintain each barrel in operative position in its seat. a

6. In a trousers Stretcher the combination of a pair of bowed bands spaced from each other, a supplemental band pivoted to the ends of each of the bowed bands, means to lock the supplemental bands in different angular positions, other bands at right angles to the bowed bands with the end portions of the latter connected to the bowed bands and means to connect the bowed bands to the legs of a pair of trousers.

In testimony whereof I afih: my signature.

CARLQS M. DEL VALLE, M. D. 

